PRINTER'S NO. 3697
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
979
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY CEPHAS, BARRAR, READSHAW, NEILSON, QUIGLEY,
SOLOMON, THOMAS, SIMS, YOUNGBLOOD, SCHLOSSBERG, KINSEY,
DRISCOLL, HILL-EVANS, MURT, DALEY, ROEBUCK, DONATUCCI, WATSON
AND GILLEN, JUNE 18, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
JUNE 18, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to allocate funding for
the specific purpose of dredging the Schuylkill River and to
fulfill the requirements of a congressional mandate that
provides for the required maintenance of the Schuylkill
River.
WHEREAS, Before the Great Depression, Philadelphia regularly
dredged the Schuylkill River to keep it free of coal waste and
sediment; and
WHEREAS, During the 1950s, dredging of the Schuylkill River
resumed as a result of coal mining remediation initiatives; and
WHEREAS, By the 1990s, the Schuylkill River was once again in
poor condition, primarily due to increased sedimentation caused
by agricultural activities and rapid suburban development; and
WHEREAS, A Federal law enacted in 1996 provided the United
States Army Corps of Engineers with the responsibility to care
for and manage the Schuylkill River; and
WHEREAS, Federal law requires the periodic removal and
disposal of sediment to provide for a depth of six feet within
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portions of the Fairmount pool between the Fairmount Dam and the
Columbia Bridge located within the limits of the channel
alignments referred to as the Schuylkill River Racecourse and
return lane, the Belmont Water Works intakes and Boathouse Row;
and
WHEREAS, The Schuylkill River was last dredged in 1999, when
30,000 cubic yards of silt were removed over the course of
several months; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 18 years, the portions of the
Schuylkill River known as the Schuylkill River Racecourse and
return lane, the Belmont Water Works intakes and Boathouse Row
have gradually filled with silt and debris, raising the floor of
the river and creating shallow conditions that have directly
affected rowers' abilities to traverse certain lanes of the
racecourse; and
WHEREAS, Since 2015, the United States Army Corps of
Engineers has repeatedly stated that the Schuylkill River needs
to be dredged due to its current state; and
WHEREAS, In past years, at the urging of the United States
Army Corps of Engineers, dredging of the Schuylkill River has
been added as a project in the Federal budget, but the project
has yet to receive funding; and
WHEREAS, The Schuylkill Navy, the nation's oldest amateur
athletic association, is the governing body that oversees
Boathouse Row and Schuylkill River Racecourse activities; and
WHEREAS, The Schuylkill Navy has been actively working with
Philadelphia city leaders, members of Congress from Pennsylvania
and area universities to advocate for the dredging of the
Schuylkill River; and
WHEREAS, Today, the depth off the docks of Boathouse Row is
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less than one foot, rendering boat launching difficult and
navigation along Boathouse Row hazardous; and
WHEREAS, A roughly 3.5-mile span of the Schuylkill River
located between the Strawberry Mansion Bridge and the Columbia
Railroad Bridge is the home of a national rowing racecourse and
hosts a multitude of annual rowing and regatta activities; and
WHEREAS, Not only is the aspect of fairness called into
question when certain rowers are placed at a competitive
disadvantage due to shallow waters, but the health and safety of
rowing participants is also a primary concern; and
WHEREAS, Inexperienced rowers have been stuck in the mud on
several occasions, thereby having to climb out of their vessels
and drag them to deeper waters; and
WHEREAS, In some instances, rowers' boats have hit shallow
waters, causing them to capsize; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, all race lanes should be a minimum depth of six feet
to ensure the health and safety of rowers and to provide all
participants with an opportunity to engage in a fair and equal
competition; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has been regarded as the nation's
finest rowing city, hosting the largest high school, collegiate
and club regattas in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Rowing activities are a tremendous economic driver
for the local economy, regularly filling hotels, restaurants and
shops with rowing participants and spectators; and
WHEREAS, The presence of rowing and its long history in
Philadelphia has enhanced the quality of life for individuals
who engage in water sports and for nearly all residents of
Philadelphia; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Congress
of the United States to allocate funding for the specific
purpose of dredging the Schuylkill River and to fulfill the
requirements of a congressional mandate that provides for the
required maintenance of the Schuylkill River; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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